Southend Airport Airshows
The
first
airshow
at
the
airport
was
held
on
the
official
opening
day
on
Wednesday
18th
September
1935.
A
number
of
aircraft
making
flying
demonstrations
throughout
the
day
included
De
Havilland
DH85
Leopard
Moth
&
the
new
Shorts
S16
Scion,
however,
with war looming the short life of Southend's civilian airport would soon revert to a war footing.
Airshows
did
not
return
to
Southend
Airport
until
the
1947,
this
airshow
saw
an
air
race
arranged
along
with
displays
by
the
RAF
including a Vampire formation team.
On
Saturday
20th
June
1953
the
National
Air
Races
came
to
Southend,
with
thousands
attending
this
was
at
the
time
the
biggest
airshow
the
town
had
ever
held.
The
Kings
Cup
was
won
by
L.
A
"Clem"
Pike
in
his
D.
H.
Chipmunk
G-AKDN
and
the
Norton
Griffiths
trophy
was
awarded
to
W.
P.
Bowles
who
flew
Miles
Messenger
2a
G-AJYZ.
However,
the
event
was
not
without
incident,
a
Supermarine
Spitfire
G-AISU/AB910
was
damaged
in
a
heavy
landing.
Worse
was
to
follow
with
the
day
ending
on
a
tragic
note
when
a
Percival
Proctor
G-AKWV
was
involved
in
an
mid-air
collision
with
Proctor
G-AIKJ
whilst
taking
part
in
the
Kings
Cup
Air
Race,
the
tail
plane
and
fin
broke
off
and
the
aircraft
plummeted
to
the
ground
and
caught
fire,
the
pilot
was
killed
on
impact
the
second aircraft sustained damage to its propeller and leading edge, this has been the only death at any airshow held at Southend.
The
next
airshow
held
in
Southend
was
on
Sunday
8th
March
1966
to
celebrate
the
Centenary
of
the
Royal
Aeronautical
Society
(formed
12th
January
1866).
To
mark
the
occasion
the
Southend
branch
of
the
R.A.e.S
planed
an
exhibition,
it
was
to
be
the
biggest
exhibition
and
air-display
ever
seen
in
the
area,
sadly,
the
weather
prevented
much
of
the
flying
display
from
taking
place.
Total
of
10,000
people
came
to
the
event,
the
hangers
of
the
ATEL
were
used
for
the
exhibition,
once
the
weather
cleared
joy-flights
over
the
town
and
seafront
were
arranged,
during
the
day
an
R.A.F
Vulcan
made
a
touch
and
go
and
an
R.A.F
Phantom
made
a
low
level
fly
past.
The
airport
held
an
open-day
on
Sunday
24th
March
1968,
the
event
was
to
commemorate
two
anniversary's,
one
being
the
golden
jubilee
of
the
R.A.F
and
the
other
being
the
21st
anniversary
of
the
post
war
airport.
The
event
was
a
tremendous
success
it
was
opened
at
2:00pm
by
a
Wittering
based
100sqn
R.A.F
Victor
bomber
making
a
touch
and
go.
Other
aircraft
included
the
Spitfires
and
Hurricanes
of
the
BBMF,
Air
Sea
Rescue
demonstration,
Lightning,
Shackleton,
Dominie
(HS125),
R.A.F
Falcons.
The
unique
Reid
&
Sigrist
Desford
G-AGOS
and
a
number
of
other
historic
aircraft
flew
into
the
airport
and
gave
displays
throughout
the
day
the
event drew a crowed of over 50,000. The organisers of the proposed museum also put on display their aircraft.
Sunday 26th April 1970 Southend Airshow took place.
On
Friday
26th
May
1972,
The
Historic
Aircraft
Museum
opened.
To
mark
the
event
a
grand
air
display
from
Southend
Airport
was
held.
1935 Opening Day Airshow
10:00am Gates open;
Admission Up till 1:30pm Adults 6d, Children 3d, Cars 1s
Admission After 1:30pm Adults 1s, Children 6d
Mayors enclosure: Adults 10/6, Children 5s
11:00 Formation Flying by Southend Flying Club Avro Cadets
11:15 Arrival of Mr C. W. A. Scott
11:30 Autogiro
11:45 Lecture by Mr C. W. A. Scott
12:00 Crazy flying by Capt Glover Southend Flying Club
12:15 Pleasure flights over Southend
12:45
Arrival
by
His
Worship
The
Mayor
of
Southend
&
Rt
Hon
Sir
Philip
Sassoon.
The
Under
Secretary of State for Air
12:55 Presentation of Bouquets to the Mayoress & Mrs Webber
1:00 Luncheon Interval
2:30 Official Opening by Sir Philip Sassoon
2:45 Autogiro
3:15
Display
by
Air
Publicity,
aircraft
will
tow
banners
between
150
-
250
feet
in
length
by
4
to
7
feet
high
these
can
cover
up
to
600
to 1750 square feet of sky space
3:30 Display of the latest type of high speed fighter by S. A. Thorne of A. V.Role
3:45 Special Surprise item
4:00 Converging Bombing
4:15 Parachutes
4:30 Demonstration of the latest open and closed civil aircraft, including Short Scion & De Havilland DH86 Express
The Astoria Grand Orchestra
4:45 Mannequin Parade
8:00 Illuminations Pleasure Flights
Aircraft displaying included:
Avro Lynx
4x Hawker Heart
Mew Gull
Kings Cup Falcon
Southend-on-Sea
Southend Airshow 1947
The 1947 Southend Airshow saw an air race arranged along with displays by the RAF including a Vampire formation team.
Saturday 20th June 1953 National Air Races
Event One: Grosvenor Challenge Cup Air Race
Event Two: Landings
Event Three: The Norton-Griffiths Challenge Trophy Air Race
Event Four: Landings
Event Five: The Kemsley Challenge Trophy Air Race
Event Six: Landings
Event
Seven:
Solo
display
of
aerobatics
by
a
Gloster
Meteor
T7
of
the
Central
Flying
School
of
the
RAF Little Rissington
Event Eight: Four RAF English Electric Canberra B2's of 101Sqn
Event
Nine:
Solo
display
of
aerobatics
by
a
North
American
Sabre
if
the
Royal
Canadian
Air
Force
Fighter Wing North Luffenham
Event Ten: Four RCAF North American Sabres perform team aerobatics from North Luffenham
Event
Eleven:
Winching
demonstration
by
a
Royal
Navy
Westlands-Sikorsky
Dragonfly
HR3
of
705Sqn
Event Twelve: The Kings Cup Air Race
Event Thirteen: Landings
Event Fourteen: Pattouille DEtampes Display of aerobatics by the French Acrobatic Squadron, Nord SV4C Stample's
Event Fifteen: Joy Flights & departure of visiting aircraft
Sunday 8th May 1966, Royal Aeronautical Society Centenary Display
Static:
Pou du Ciel G-AEOF
Slingsby Swallow No.369 (c/n.1475)
Avro Anson G-ALIH
Blanik L-13 G-ASVS
Piper Cherokees G-ASIL and N9014J
Pawnee G-ASIY
Nipper G-ATBW
Tipsy Trainer G-AFWT
Vickers Viscount G-APZC
Trener Master G-ASIM
Bristol Britannias G-AOVP, G-APNB, G-ATGD
Vickers Viking G-AHOP (Marconi)
The Tiger Club Contingent:
Beagle D5/180 Husky G-ATMH
Cosmic Wind G-ARUL
De Havilland Tiger Moth G-ACDC
Snacan Stampe SV-4C G-ASHS
Druine Condor G-ARVZ
Druine D.31 Turbulent G-APNZ
Druine D.31 Turbulent G-ASDB
Visiting Aircraft:
Auster D6/180 G-ARDJ
Beagle A61 Terrier G-ARSL
Piper PA23-250 Aztec G-ASFG
De Havilland Hornet Moth G-ADUR, (landed short of fuel at Hall Farm, continuing to the airport later)
Joy Rides:
Piper Cherokee G-ATLW
Piper Cherokee and G-ATRX
Flying:
Cosmic Wind
Stampe
Red Pelicans, arrived to land (Jet Provosts XP549, XP552, XP554, XP571 and XP573 which joined the static park)
Whirlwind 10 XP354
Red Pelicans Display
Carvair G-ASKN
Zlin
Nipper
Zlin & Stampe
Bolkow Junior G-ATDO
Sunday 24th March 1968, 21st Anniversary Open Day
Static Park.
Belroit— RAF Museum
Gloster Gladiator— Shuttleworth Collection
Hawker Hurricane— RAF
Supermarine Spitfire— RAF
Hawker Siddeley Dominie— RAF Stradishall
Lockheed Hercules— RAF Support Command
Westland Whirlwind— RAF Manston (22sqn)
Avro Shackleton— RAF Coastal Command
Avro Lincoln Southend Historic Aircraft Museum
Hawker Sea Fury— Southend Historic Aircraft Museum
Hawker Sea Hawk— Southend Historic Aircraft Museum
Saab J-29f— Southend Historic Aircraft Museum
De Havilland Vampire— 1312Atc Sqn
De Havilland Hornet Moth—Historic Aircraft Group
De Havilland Cygnet—Historic Aircraft group
De Havilland Cirrus Mot —Hawker Siddeley
Avro Anson—E K Cole
Tippsy Nipper— Altair
Bristol Freighter— British Air Ferries
Aviation Traders ATL98 Carvai —British Air Ferries
De Havilland Fox Moth— Tiger Club
De Havilland Puss Moth—Tiger Club
Hawker Siddeley Trident— Channel Airways
Pipper Apache —Automobile Association
Shorts Skyvan— Shorts (Belfast)
Elizabethan— BKS
Piper Cherokee— Southend Light Aviation Centre
Aircoupe— Southend Light Aviation Centre
Gliders—Marmol Aviation
The ATEL & other hangers will be open.
Flying Display
Handley Page Victor Air to Air re-fuelling demo with English Electric Lighting
Handley Page Victor Touch and Go
English Electric Lightning —Display
SAR Westland's Whirlwind— SAR Demo
Hawker Siddeley Dominie— Display
Lockheed Hercules— Display
Avro Shackleton —Display
Armstrong Whitworth Argosy— Take off RAF Falcons
Supermarine Spitfire— Display
Hawker Hurricane —Display
RAF Flacons Freefall
Armstrong Whitworth Argosy Flypast and land to close RAF Section
Glostor Gladiator— Display
De Havilland Tiger Moth x2
Stampe x2
Gliders
Shorts Skyvan
Tipsy Nipper
Percival Prentice
Aircoupe & Cherokee's Formation
De Havilland Foxmoth
De Havilland Pussmoth
De Havilland Hornet Moth
Cygnet
Scheduled Services will arrive and depart during the show
Sunday 26th April 1970 Southend Airshow
RAF English Electric Lightning acrobatic display
Lockheed Hercules
Shorts SC5 Belfast
De Havilland Comet
Bristol Britannia
Armstrong Whitworth Argosy
Hawker Siddeley Andover
Vickers VC10
RAF Falcons
RAF Red Arrows
Gliding Display
Banner Snatch by a Percival Prentice
The Tiger Club
Neville Browning's Flying Circus
The Vintage Aircraft Flying Club
John Fairey's aerobatic Spitfire G-AIDN
Friday 26th May 1972, Historic Aircraft Museum Opening Display from Southend Airport
R.A.F Spitfire
R.A.F Hurricane
Rothmans Stample Aerobatic Team
Aerobatic gliding by champion "Ladi" Marmol
Major Tom Rigeways "Silver Stars" Sky diving team
Low-level crop spaying demonstration
1929 "Tom tit" bi-plane from the Shuttleworth Collection
Cirrus Moth from the Shuttleworth Collection
Hot Air Balloon Ascent Formation of Turbulent's tied together
Jungman & Tigermoth
R.A.F Skeeter Helicopter
Bill Coles Flying Flea
The Museum Aircraft
A young lady wingwalk on bi-plane
De Havilland Pussmoth G-AEOA founding aircraft of East Anglian Flying Services
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